- 18
- January
2012
A heroic rescue after a California car-and-truck accident has made nationwide news. The car accident occurred on Highway 101 when a truck rear-ended a BMW. The truck fell into a ravine, bursting into flames and killing the truck driver. Meanwhile, the BMW hung on a bridge, 100 feet over the ravine. The family members - a mother, her baby and her 10-year-old daughter - were trapped.
Members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department acted quickly to get the family out of the car. The Navy Seabees also stepped in to help, using a forklift to stabilize the car.
Appearing on Good Morning America, Fire Chief Ray Navarro said, "This was a complex situation. We had a vehicle with occupants trapped on the bridge and hazmats under the bridge. The teamwork and courage and abilities and skills all came together. And we focused on rescuing those trapped inside."
As of Sunday's report, the mother was in fair condition, the 10-year old in serious condition and the baby was home with family members. According to a Santa Barbara firefighter, proper installation of the car seat saved the baby's life.
This dramatic situation has made news across the country and people are applauding the heroic efforts of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and the Navy Seabees. While car accidents like this one are rare, California fire departments and other rescue workers are daily heroes, working quickly to save lives after serious auto accidents.
As California personal injury lawyers, we understand the tremendous value of emergency crews. Sometimes, we have the fortune of working with police and fire departments to understand how a car accident occurred and develop the evidence necessary to determine fault and recover compensation for our personal injury clients.
Source: ABC News, "California Ravine Rescue: Emergency Workers Speak Out," Kevin Dolak, Katti Gray, Jan. 16, 2012.
